Tongs



(No Model.)

0. L. OWEN. TONGS.

Patented Dec. 8,1896.

Witnesses. Inventor. (9 X: QMPQ/vv, X

Attorn ys cording to my invention may be employed F UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

OSCAR L. OVEN, OF YVHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,564, dated December8, 1896.

Application filed April 10, 1896.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, OSCAR L. OWEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vhitinsville, in the county of orcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful -Improvement in Tongs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is toprovide a simple and efficient form oftongs which may be readily and cheaply constructed.

To these ends my invention consists of the parts and combinations ofparts, as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing themanner in which my tongs may be employed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of apair of tongs constructed according to my invention, and Fig. 3 is aside view of the same. 1

A pair of tongs constructed according to my invention comprises a bodyportion having spring-arms which normally stand in a spread or openposition and an operatingrod which is arranged to force said armstogether.

' The body portion is provided withfingen sockets, and the operatingrrodis provided with a thumb-socket, said sockets being so arranged that apair of tongs constructed acand adjusted with one hand.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, 10 designates the body portion,which consists of a single piece of wire bent to form a central eye orguide 11, with loops or fingersockets 12 and 13 at each side thereof.EX- tending from the loops or finger-sockets 12 and 13 are the normallyopen springfarms l4- and 15. At their ends the spring-arms 14 and 15 arebent back to form engaging or clamping sections 16 and 17.

If preferred, the ends of the spring-arms may be simply bent in to formengaging points, or may be provided with flattened or other desired formof engaging sections.

The wire operating-rod 18 fits into the cen- Serial No. 586,964. (Noman.)

tral eye or guide 11 of the body portion, and

is provided at one end with a clampin -section or loop 19, which fitsover and engages the normally open spring-arms 14 and 15. At itsopposite end the operating-rod 18 is provided with an eye or loop 20,which forms a socket for receiving the thumb of the operator.

When a pair of tongs constructed according to my invention are to beused, the operator inserts a thumb into the loop or eye 20 and the twofirst fingers of the same hand into the loops or finger-sockets 12 and13.

When the operating-rod 18 is pushed down, the clamping-section 19 willforce the springarms 14 and 15 together. When the operating-rod isWithdrawn, the arms 14 and 15 will be moved apart by resilience.

Tongs constructed according to my invention have been employed to formdesirable table articles for serving olives, pickles, &c.,

but my tongs can also be employed with advantage for laboratory andother uses.

I am aware that changes may be made in my device by those who areskilled in the art Without departing from the scope of my invention asexpressed in the claims. I do not Wish, therefore, to be limited to theform which I have shown and described; but

"What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In a pair of tongs, the combination of a body portion formed of apiece of wire bent to form an eye or loop substantially in the middle ofsaid piece, finger-sockets at each side of said loop, and integral,normally open spring-arms, and a wire operating-rod extending throughsaid eye, and having a clamping-section at one end for engaging thespringarms, and a loop or thumb-socket at the 'opposite end, said partsbeing arranged so that the spring-arms can be controlled and opero atedwith one hand,substantially as described.

2. In a pair of tongs, the combination of a body portion havingspring-arms 14 and 15, which normally stand in a spread or openposition, a central guide or eye 11, finger-sockets 12 and 13 at eachside of said guide or eye,

and an operating-rod 18' extending through said guide, and having aclamping-section 19 at one end, and a loop or thumb-socket 20 at theother end, the parts being arranged so that the spring-arms can becontrolled and operated with one hand, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 1n the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OSCAR L. OWEN. \Vitnesses:

LOUIS W. SoUTHe-ATE, PHILIP XV. SOUTHGATE.

